Thank you so much to all 350+ guests who attended Community Action Lehigh Valley’s 60th anniversary Annual Meeting at Wind Creek Event Center on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. We were thrilled to celebrate six decades of dedicated service and community impact. This year, we spotlighted our neighborhood revitalization programs (Community Action Development Allentown, Community Action Development Bethlehem, and Slate Belt Rising) showcasing how they encourage youth engagement, drive economic success, and enhance community pride. At Community Action, our programs are deeply interconnected and integral to building a stronger, more cohesive community. Together, we are stronger. Together, we make a difference. In community, we find unity.
We started off the day with an opening from Dawn Godshall, Executive Director of CALV.
We then heard from Lou Cinquino, the outgoing Board President of CALV. In his farewell speech, he reflected, “Unity does not mean identical or complete uniformity. Unity does not mean imposing only one point of view. That’s not unity; that’s intolerance and oppression. Unity is how we complement each other and work together in our common pursuits. Unity is a balance, a kind of dance, an agreement.”
Following Lou’s address, we introduced our incoming Board President, Hilda Cruz, who currently serves as Vice President. Hilda took a moment to acknowledge the dedication of her fellow Board Officers from this year and recognized the contributions of the current Board Members.
As part of the program, we viewed several impactful videos. One featured an excerpt from President Lyndon B. Johnson’s iconic War on Poverty speech, originally delivered during his State of the Union Address on January 8, 1964. In this landmark speech, Johnson unveiled a comprehensive set of initiatives aimed at eliminating poverty in the United States, forming the foundation of his Great Society agenda and leading to the creation of Community Action agencies nationwide.
We also watched a special video created for this year’s Annual Meeting by David Bradley, Chief Executive Officer of the National Community Action Foundation. In his message, Mr. Bradley shared that he has closely followed our Lehigh Valley agency for years from Washington, D.C., and considers us a shining example of what Lyndon B. Johnson envisioned for local Community Action agencies—successfully alleviating poverty and empowering communities.
We then welcomed Dan Bosket, Director of Community Action Development Allentown, to the stage. He introduced Sergeant John Leonard of the Allentown Police Department, and together they discussed their partnership in engaging local youth through summer camps. Sgt. Leonard, who also leads the Community Outreach Unit, shared his mission of fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the diverse community they serve. He highlighted their flagship initiative, saying, “The Youth Academy, which we run in collaboration with CADA, is a comprehensive program focusing on personal development, mentorship, civic leadership, and empowering youth to become responsible, engaged, and passionate leaders.”
Next, we welcomed Sandee Kennedy, an employee of Fidelity Bank and a proud member of the Slate Belt Rising Advisory Board. Sandee introduced our new Slate Belt Rising advertising video, which highlights the wide range of SBR’s work, including supporting local business start-ups, improving facades, enhancing parks and public spaces, commissioning local artists for mural projects, and more.
Anna Smith, Director of Community Action Development Bethlehem, took the stage. Anna spoke about her work with hundreds of Bethlehem residents on neighborhood issues, particularly the ongoing affordable housing crisis. She provided an overview of the upcoming Alley House Project, which pilots the construction of accessory dwelling units. Anna explained, “This approach allows us each to do what we are best at—Community Action handles the construction and community engagement, New Bethany manages long-term property management and tenant supports, the City of Bethlehem facilitates fundraising and collaboration, and Lehigh University’s technical expertise helps lower costs and identify best practices.”
Anna then introduced Andy Po, a Southside Bethlehem community member and owner of Homebase Skateshop. Andy has been working in the community for over a decade as an advocate and collaborator. He shared his experience partnering with Community Action, Bethlehem Parks & Rec, and City Council to build the Bethlehem Skateplaza. Reflecting on this work, Andy said, “Those were formative years, learning to work across sectors and gaining insight into the impact people can make together for their neighborhood.”
Andy also discussed his "Push Ahead" program, an after-school initiative that teaches kids the basics of skateboarding, particularly those who might not otherwise have access. Operating for over 10 years at Donegan Elementary School, the program has since expanded to Allentown and Easton. Beyond skateboarding, “Push Ahead” came to focus on teaching social-emotional skills, mindfulness, mentorship, and career exploration, providing a holistic and impactful experience for local children, which led her to her first job.
Incoming Board President, Hilda Cruz, closed the event by sharing why she chooses to stay involved with Community Action. Hilda, a past recipient of our services through a program that connected families to workforce development opportunities, credited that program for leading her to her first job. She spoke passionately about her connection to the agency and concluded the luncheon by encouraging the audience to get involved, saying, “The people at this agency, both staff and board, are passionate about helping others in so many ways—which means there are many ways for YOU to get involved! Whether your passion is food access, housing stability, or strengthening our youth, CALV is on the front lines of advocating for people in the Lehigh Valley.”
A huge thank you to our Economic Opportunity Sponsors: Lehigh Valley Health Network & Penn Community Bank, and all of our sponsors who helped make this year’s Annual Meeting possible:
ABE Lehigh Valley International Airport
BSI Corporate Benefits
CLA
ESSA Bank and Trust
Fidelity Bank
First Northern Bank and Trust
HMK Insurance
IBEW 375
JustBorn Quality Confections
King, Spry, Herman, Freund, and Faul LLC
Mishka Premium Vodka
National Magnetics Group
Peoples Security Bank and Trust
QNB Bank
TD Bank
Truist
Unity Bank
WDIY
Wind Creek Bethlehem
Working Dog Press
A huge thank you to all our local representatives, legislators, and political supporters who attended, including:
Sheila Alvarado (Lehigh County Commissioner)
Megan Beste (representing US Congresswoman Susan Wild)
Milagros Canales (representing State Senator Nick Miller)
Zach Cole-Borghi (Lehigh County Commissioner)
Connor Corpora (representing Governor Josh Shapiro)
Kurt Derr (representing State Senator Lisa Boscola)
Sarah Hildebrant (representing State Senator Jarrett Coleman)
Elsie Laboy (representing US Congresswoman Susan Wild)
Zach Mako (State Representative)
Willie Reynolds' office (Bethlehem Mayor)
Crystal Rose (Easton City Council)
Bill Royer (representing State Representative Ryan Mackenzie)
Steve Samuelson (State Representative)
Mike Schlossberg (State Representative)
Pete Schweyer (State Representative)
Matthew Tuerk (Allentown Mayor)
Mariska Van Aalst (representing US Senator Bob Casey)
Abby Wachter (representing State Representative Ann Flood)
Jeff Warren (Northampton County Councilman)
We’re already gearing up for our 2025 Annual Meeting! Be sure to check our Events Calendar for the date. If you’re interested in getting involved, reach out to our Associate Executive Director of Development, Barbara Kochard, to explore sponsorship opportunities and discover ways you and your company can support Community Action Lehigh Valley.
Press & Media coverage:
Lehigh Valley News: 'That's Why We're Here': Community Action Lehigh Valley celebrates 60 Years Helping Those in Need
Photography by: Marco Calderon, @calederonphoto
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